Alocasia plant named ‘Zulu Mask’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Alocasia  plant named ‘Zulu Mask’, that is characterized by its large leaves that are dark green in color with white veins on the upper surface and dark maroon in color on the lower surface, its leaves that are long, arrow-shaped with long basal lobes and leaf tips that point downward, its leaves that are orientated horizontal to downward, its petioles that are greenish white in color, its plant height of 0.9 to 1.2 m (3 to 4 ft.) when mature, and its good resistance to root rot.

Botanical classification: Alocasia hybrid.

Cultivar designation: ‘Zulu Mask’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, Alocasia ‘Zulu Mask’, relates to a new and distinct interspecific hybrid of Alocasia, hereinafter referred to by its cultivar name, ‘Zulu Mask’. ‘Zulu Mask’ is a new tropical plant used as a landscape and container plant.

The new cultivar was derived from a controlled breeding program conducted by the Inventor at his nursery in Louisville, Ky. The overall purpose of the breeding program is to made selections of Alocasia plants with large, colorful leaves that are easy to grow in the nursery and landscape and exhibit improved cold hardiness. ‘Zulu Mask’ arose from a cross make in June of 2009 between an unnamed plant of Alocasia odora as the female parent and an unnamed plant of hybrid origin from the Inventor's breeding program as the male parent. ‘Zulu Mask’ was selected as a single unique plant in July of 2010 from amongst the seedlings derived from the above cross.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by in vitro propagation under the direction of the Inventor in Eustis, Fla. in May of 2012. Asexual propagation by in vitro propagation of the new cultivar has shown that the unique features of the new cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘Zulu Mask’ as a new and unique cultivar of Alocasia.

-   -   1. ‘Zulu Mask’ exhibits large leaves that are dark green in         color with white veins on the upper surface and dark maroon in         color on the lower surface.     -   2. ‘Zulu Mask’ exhibits leaves that are long, arrow-shaped with         long basal lobes and leaf tips that point downward.     -   3. ‘Zulu Mask’ exhibits petioles that are greenish white in         color.     -   4. ‘Zulu Mask’ exhibits a plant height of 0.9 to 1.2 m (3 to 4         ft.) when mature.     -   5. ‘Zulu Mask’ exhibits leaves that are orientated horizontal to         downward.     -   6. ‘Zulu Mask’ exhibits good resistance to root rot.

The female parent of ‘Zulu Mask’, an unnamed plant of Alocasia odora, differs from ‘Zulu Mask’ in being taller in height (up to 2.5 m), in having petioles that are green in color, and in having leaves that are held upright and are green in color on both surfaces with green veins. The male parent of ‘Zulu Mask’, an unnamed plant from the Inventor's breeding program, differs from ‘Zulu Mask’ in having leaves with basal lobes that are shorter (less deeply cut), in being shorter in height, in being more sensitive to cold and less resistant to root rot. ‘Zulu Mask’ can be most closely compared to the cultivars Alocasia macrorrhiza ‘Lutea’ (not patented) and Alocasia ‘Amazonica’ (not patented). ‘Lutea’ is similar to ‘Zulu Mask’ in having large leaves but differs from ‘Zulu Mask’ in having leaves that are green on both surfaces with yellow veins on the upper surface, and in being more cold sensitive. ‘Amazonica’ is similar to ‘Zulu Mask’ in having foliage that is green with white veins on the upper surface. ‘Amazonica’ differs from ‘Zulu Mask’ in having leaves with rippled margins, and in being shorter in height, more cold sensitive, and highly susceptible to root rot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Alocasia, ‘Zulu Mask’. The photographs were taken of a 2 year-old plant of ‘Zulu Mask’ as grown outdoors in a 2-gallon container under 6 mm poly and natural lighting in Louisville, Ky.

FIG. 1 provides an overall view of the foliage and plant habit of ‘Zulu Mask’.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of the upper surface of a leaf of ‘Zulu Mask’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of the lower surface of a leaf of ‘Zulu Mask’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the photographic and printing technology utilized and the color values cited in the Detailed Botanical Description accurately describe the colors of the new Alocasia.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of three year-old plants of the new cultivar as grown outdoors in full sun under 2 mm poly greenhouse plastic in Louisville, Ky. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:     -   -   Plant type.—Tropical perennial herb.         -   Plant habit.—Upright, stemless.         -   Height and spread.—Reaches about 0.9 to 1.2 m in height and             width (3 to 4 ft.).         -   Cold hardiness.—At least to U.S.D.A. Zone 8.         -   Diseases and pests.—Has shown good resistance to root rot.         -   Roots.—Fleshy.         -   Propagation type.—In vitro propagation is preferred.         -   Growth rate.—Vigorous.         -   Stem description.—Stemless. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf shape.—Cordate-sagittate.         -   Leaf division.—Single.         -   Leaf base.—Sagittate, deeply cut; lobes about 20 to 30.5 cm             in length and 7.6 to 12.7 cm in width.         -   Leaf apex.—Cuspidate with tip downward.         -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, color: upper mature surfaces; 157C,             lower mature lower surface; matches leaf surface with mid             rib that branches in lobes 193A.         -   Leaf margins.—Slightly undulate.         -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Leaf surface.—Upper surface and lower surface; coriaceous,             glabrous and satiny.         -   Leaf orientation.—Held horizontal to downward when mature.         -   Leaf color.—Young upper surface a blend of 144A and 137A,             young lower surface; 144A and suffused with N77A, mature             foliage: upper surface; 137C and turning to N137A, lower             surface; N77A.         -   Leaf size.—Up to 0.9 m in length and about 30 cm in width.         -   Petioles.—Held erect to semi-erect, about 61 cm in length             and 1.3 cm in distal diameter and about 5.1 cm in diameter             near base, glabrous surface, 145D in color with tiny spots             of N77A and blending with 161D near base, tuber-like trunk;             formed at the base of the petioles with age, about 30.5 cm             in length and 10.2 cm in width on a 3 year-old plant,             comprised of petiole scales, surface is rough and             paper-like, color is a blend of 165A and 165C. -   Inflorescence description: Blooms were not formed on the plants     available for data collection. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Alocasia plant named ‘Zulu Mask’ as herein illustrated and described. 